It's easy for pertinent numbers to disappear within the
framework of a losing season, albeit one for the New Orleans Hornets that could
be on the upswing.

Nonetheless, Hornets point guard Greivis Vasquez is
methodically chipping away at the perception that he's not among the premier
players at his position in the NBA, his statistics so far this year telling a
different story.

In Wednesday night's win over the Boston Celtics, Vasquez had 15 points and 11 rebounds, the 14th
double-double of the season for Vasquez. He logged 41 minutes on the floor
while his team won its second straight game and sixth in the last seven heading
into a Saturday night match against the Golden State Warriors, and the point
guard Vasquez supplanted this year, Jarrett Jack.

Across the board so far, Vasquez's career numbers have
almost doubled this season.

Houston Rockets' Jeremy Lin (7) tries to pass the ball followed by New Orleans Hornets' Greivis Vasquez (21) in a game earlier this year. Pat Sullivan, The Associated Press

Twice this year Vasquez has missed triple-doubles by one
rebound. In his last six games, Vasquez has handed out 61 assists.

But he's not satisfied.

"I'm not really pleased; I'm playing with a lot of
confidence but I've got so much room to get better," Vasquez said recently. "I
haven't really reached the peak of my potential. I mean I'm showing some
flashes, but I think, and Coach Monty (Williams) knows this, I've got so much
room to get better.

"I've got to be a better leader, a better defensive guy, a
better passer. I think I can do so many other good things. The good thing for
me right now is I'm playing with a lot of confidence."

And that self-assurance is rubbing off.

The Hornets started Wednesday night's game against the
Celtics, who'd won six straight, going just 3 of 13 from the field in the first
quarter, though they trailed at quarter's end only 25-20.

Without shooting guard Eric Gordon, who sat the second of
the back-to-back against the Celtics, this might previously have been a recipe
for disappointment.

But in the two weeks-plus since Gordon returned to the floor
on Dec. 29, New Orleans
has begun to play with more of a swagger. The Hornets finished the last three
quarters against the Celtics shooting 28 of 58, going 31 of 71 on the game.

Wednesday night's win was the second time in a week that the
Hornets managed to win a game without Gordon's contribution (Gordon scored just
five points in a come-from-behind victory last Wednesday at home against the
Houston Rockets on 2 of 12 shooting).

It's all an indication of the Hornets' newly discovered
confidence, buoyed by Gordon's return and the team's overall health.

"We're young," Vasquez said, "and our record will show that
because we've lost a lot of games we were supposed to win. But I think now that
we have Eric back, he's huge. He can give us defense and he can give us offense.
Everybody now is playing up to our potential.

"Everybody's got a role, everybody knows when they're coming
in. We've got a rotation. Now, guys are set up in plays that we'll be
successful. That's important. That's a huge step for our defense, and our
offense, too."